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  "path": "/health/meningitis-outbreak-iran-war-medicine-shortage-disease-kent-university",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-17T02:20:43.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "deadly meningitis outbreak in Kent",
    "Strait of Hormuz still shuttered by Iran",
    "rocketed up to their highest in years",
    "Thousands urged to take preventive meningitis antibiotics as victim's mother reveals 'awful illness'",
    "University of Kent gives exams and classes update after deadly meningitis outbreak",
    "Meningitis symptoms explained as professor describes ‘great concern’ over Kent outbreak",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nBritain may face a medicine shortage as a result of the Iran crisis - just as it races to contain a deadly meningitis outbreak in Kent.\n\nTwo people have died in the South East after an \"invasive\" spread of the disease, with 13 cases notified since March 13.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA Year 13 pupil in Faversham and a student at the University of Kent have died - while a further two are reported to be in a coma.\n\nBut now, pharmacists have raised fears that chaos in the Middle East could spark a shortage.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nDr Leyla Hannbeck, the CEO of the Independent Pharmacies Association, has told GB News that providers have been left \"very worried\" by both the war and the Government's \"lack of planning\".\n\nBritain imports most of its drugs, while even those which arrive via the EU are often made from materials shipped from countries such as China or India.\n\n\"We're very worried because the Government's lack of planning has, in the past, led to situations getting worse,\" Dr Hannbeck said.\n\n\"A lot of manufacturers are dependent on raw materials - and some of these medicines - common medicines that we're taking - are petroleum-based.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWith the Strait of Hormuz still shuttered by Iran, oil prices have rocketed up to their highest in years.\n\nAnd Dr Hannbeck has now urged Labour to put plans in place to ensure the situation does not get worse.\n\n\"We've had no communication from the Government on what they're planning to do, and we want to protect patients to ensure the UK market is protected by banning the export of 150 medicines that currently are short of supply.\"\n\nWhile the antibiotics typically used to treat meningitis do not contain petroleum, aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen all do.\n\nBut Dr Hannbeck has also urged Britons to act in the wake of the deadly outbreak.\n\n### CRISIS IN KENT - READ MORE:\n\n\n\n\n  * Thousands urged to take preventive meningitis antibiotics as victim's mother reveals 'awful illness'\n  * University of Kent gives exams and classes update after deadly meningitis outbreak\n  * Meningitis symptoms explained as professor describes ‘great concern’ over Kent outbreak\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSymptoms of meningitis include a high fever, a rash that won't go away, vomiting and feeling incredibly tired, she said.\n\n\"If anyone has these symptoms, they've got to act on it immediately - because meningitis can really spread very quickly and cause a lot of damage and death,\" Dr Hannbeck added.\n\nHealth authorities back in Britain have put out a targeted alert to anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 5, 6 or 7.\n\nThe nightclub's owner revealed last night that more than 2,000 people would have visited the venue over the three dates listed.\n\nTwo sites in Kent were open for the public to collect antibiotics on Monday, while a further two are set to open on Tuesday morning.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: \"The vast majority of the UK’s licensed medicines are in good supply, and to make sure this remains the case, we are investing more in the domestic medicine manufacturing industry.\n\n\"We're strengthening the resilience of our medicine supply by offering financial incentives for the manufacturing of more medicines - and have well-established processes in place to mitigate risks, including using alternative medicines when available.\n\n\"We are also actively engaging with partner countries to bolster supply chains - protecting NHS services and patients.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "Fears Iran war may spark medicine shortage just as Britain scrambles to contain deadly meningitis outbreak"
}